2025 team beta
Beta boxes, difficulty ratings, surface breakdowns and commentary are from our runner who did this race in 2025.
Distances, gain, mile markers and climb grades are from the team's 2025 Strava-scraped sheet.
🌐 From online: official leg names, Strava routes, exchange stations, dates and night rules
come from the official race site and 2025 race guide.
⚠ Distances/gain on the cards are our 2025 numbers. The elevation profile charts come straight
from the current 2026 Strava routes (pulled July 2026). Four legs changed for 2026 — 1, 8, 30 and 31 — those cards carry a
🔄 route-update flag. When in doubt, the Strava link wins.
Difficulty: EasyModerateHardVery Hard · Surface: pavement
gravel trail
Runner planner — who takes which rotation slot?
Rank
Slot
Runner
Legs
Miles
Climb ft
Leg ratings
Difficulty
Toughest assignment
1
1
Geoff
1, 7, 13, 19, 25, 31
37.7
3,796
100
Leg 31 · Running from the Devil (Very Hard · +929 ft)
2
2
Jonathan
2, 8, 14, 20, 26, 32
33.0
2,941
76
Leg 2 · Rockhouse Roll (Hard · +561 ft)
3
5
Sebastian
5, 11, 17, 23, 29, 35
35.8
2,502
76
Leg 5 · Wobble to Cobble (Very Hard · +896 ft)
4
3
Luke
3, 9, 15, 21, 27, 33
37.4
2,581
76
Leg 27 · Chuck a Wobbly (Hard · +818 ft)
5
4
Parker
4, 10, 16, 22, 28, 34
32.5
2,623
71
Leg 22 · Plumb Tuckered (Hard · +944 ft)
6
6
Scott
6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36
30.8
1,608
60
Leg 24 · Bushwalker (Hard · +453 ft)
Sorted hardest → easiest. Difficulty = equal parts total miles, total climb, and summed leg ratings (Easy 1 → Very Hard 4, team rating where it differs), scaled so the hardest slot = 100. Rating dots are in leg order — hover for the leg.
SECTION 1
Legs 1–6 · Lake Leatherwood (START) → Hobbs State Park
37.5 mi · +3,140 ft
🚩 START — LAKE LEATHERWOOD CITY BALLPARKmile 0 · race start
mile 0 → 6.35 · rotation slot 1 · runner Geoff · est. start Fri 6:00 AM 🌙
officialHardteam saysVery Hard
6.35 mi
+755 ft
119 ft/mi
▲ 2.8% avg · 2.2 mi · 330 ft▲ 2.2% avg · 2.3 mi · 274 ft
Elevation profile · 1,048–1,519 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
trail
Trail / pavement / gravel
2025 team betaTrail has switchbacks with loose gravel and tree roots — be careful, saw several people fall. Steep climb going into Eureka, potential to walk some of it. Easy downhill through town, followed by a tough gravel climb to the finish. Could see this leg rated very hard.
⚠ Loose gravel + roots⚠ Steep climb
🔄 2026 route update: Strava now measures this leg at ~6.9 mi (our 2025 data: 6.35 mi / +755 ft). The profile below is the current route — expect the stats to shift a bit.
mile 13.88 → 20.69 · rotation slot 3 · runner Luke · est. start Fri 8:15 AM ☀️
officialHard
6.81 mi
+609 ft
89 ft/mi
▲ 1.4% avg · 3.0 mi · 223 ft
Elevation profile · 1,338–1,662 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
trail
75% gravel/trail · 25% pavement
2025 team betaHard for sure. Super rocky path — even the vans can't follow it. You run across a dry river bed and finish up a steep, narrow hiking trail to the highway. Many had to walk a little.
mile 26.02 → 32.51 · rotation slot 5 · runner Sebastian · est. start Fri 10:14 AM ☀️
officialVery Hard
6.49 mi
+896 ft
138 ft/mi
▲ 3.4% avg · 1.8 mi · 315 ft▲ 2.2% avg · 2.1 mi · 252 ft
Elevation profile · 1,114–1,493 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
gravel
100% gravel
2025 team betaVery steep climbs with some hard descents — and beautiful views. You'll have hills where you have to walk, followed by steep descents where you can run fast, but not too fast or you might fall. Pay attention to footing. Very challenging leg.
mile 42.42 → 48.5 · rotation slot 2 · runner Jonathan · est. start Fri 12:54 PM ☀️
officialHard
6.08 mi
+376 ft
62 ft/mi
Elevation profile · 1,141–1,427 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
trail
Mostly trail · last mile pavement
2025 team betaAnticipate loose rocks, exposed roots and heavy leaf coverage. Several descents and moderate climbs. Finishes with a transition to paved road leading directly to War Eagle. GPS navigation recommended for the trail (sorry Benny).
⚠ GPS recommended⚠ Rocks + roots + leaves
🔄 2026 route update: Strava now measures this leg at ~6.3 mi (our 2025 data: 6.08 mi / +376 ft). The profile below is the current route — expect the stats to shift a bit.
Elevation profile · 1,187–1,528 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
gravel
½ mi pavement · 7 mi gravel · 1 mi pavement
2025 team betaYou go up a gnarly hill when you reach gravel — the rock was chunky and challenging for road shoes. Back onto the highway, then gravel again. Both my favorite and least favorite leg. Rated hard, and I definitely agree.
mile 65.36 → 72.49 · rotation slot 5 · runner Sebastian · est. start Fri 4:37 PM ☀️
officialModerate
7.13 mi
+327 ft
46 ft/mi
Elevation profile · 1,316–1,608 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
⅓ gravel · ⅔ pavement
2025 team betaEasy downhill to start. Rolling hills with a couple decent climbs. Gravel was in good shape. Turns onto Hwy 23, which is flat — but be on the lookout for traffic.
Elevation profile · 1,242–1,586 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
⅓ pavement · ⅔ gravel
2025 team betaCross the street to the dirt road — if you go over the second bridge, you went too far. Pavement leads to a ferry pickup to cross Hwy 412, then finish with a half-mile run after.
mile 99.13 → 103.87 · rotation slot 5 · runner Sebastian · est. start Fri 10:07 PM 🌙
officialModerate
4.74 mi
+630 ft
133 ft/mi
Elevation profile · 1,393–1,866 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
75% gravel · 25% pavement
2025 team betaAppropriately moderate. The hills were nasty getting up, but you end on pavement with a consistent decline — you make up a ton of time on the downhill. Push hard on the uphill, because you can catch your breath at the end.
mile 103.87 → 108.62 · rotation slot 6 · runner Scott · est. start Fri 10:53 PM 🌙
officialModerateteam saysEasy
4.75 mi
+156 ft
33 ft/mi
Elevation profile · 1,204–1,621 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
Pavement / gravel / pavement · about half and half
2025 team betaYou can definitely run faster on this leg. Pay attention to turns and traffic on the final mile. Overall a flat and nice leg — more towards easy.
mile 122.93 → 127.77 · rotation slot 4 · runner Parker · est. start Sat 1:59 AM 🌙
officialModerateteam saysHard
4.84 mi
+944 ft
195 ft/mi
▲ 3.0% avg · 4.8 mi · 765 ft
Elevation profile · 1,516–2,263 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
Gravel / pavement · close to half and half
2025 team betaOne steady climb the whole way — very gradual, but steep at times. It just keeps going! Hard to hold the heart rate down. Be ready to climb and go slow on this one. Leans towards hard.
mile 135.94 → 140.6 · rotation slot 6 · runner Scott · est. start Sat 4:05 AM 🌙
officialHard
4.66 mi
+453 ft
97 ft/mi
▲ 3.7% avg · 1.6 mi · 310 ft
Elevation profile · 941–1,234 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
100% pavement
2025 team betaEven though it's pavement, it was in very bad shape at times — pay attention. A lot of hills and very desolate. You will walk some. It felt good to get to Lake Fort Smith and be done with this one.
mile 140.6 → 149.01 · rotation slot 1 · runner Geoff · est. start Sat 4:51 AM 🌙
officialHard
8.41 mi
+845 ft
100 ft/mi
▲ 5.3% avg · 2.1 mi · 595 ft
Elevation profile · 829–1,634 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
100% pavement
2025 team betaAll uphill for 1.7 miles before a constant downhill to Chester. The downhill felt like it went on forever. Rated hard, and I definitely agree.
mile 149.01 → 154.48 · rotation slot 2 · runner Jonathan · est. start Sat 6:13 AM 🌙
officialModerate
5.47 mi
+958 ft
175 ft/mi
▲ 3.0% avg · 5.5 mi · 851 ft
Elevation profile · 853–1,740 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
100% pavement
2025 team betaTake a left onto the main road out of the parking lot, immediately beginning a substantial climb. Once you reach the summit, bear left to transition to a dirt road for your exchange.
mile 154.48 → 162.15 · rotation slot 3 · runner Luke · est. start Sat 7:06 AM 🌅
officialModerateteam saysHard
7.67 mi
+818 ft
107 ft/mi
▲ 2.3% avg · 3.0 mi · 357 ft
Elevation profile · 1,610–2,020 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
gravel
100% gravel
2025 team betaArguably a hard rating. The hills were a beast and the terrain was difficult. There's a huge hill between miles 5 and 6 — you will likely walk some. Save yourself on the initial hills, because the last one is painful.
mile 167.3 → 173.57 · rotation slot 5 · runner Sebastian · est. start Sat 9:11 AM ☀️
officialModerate
6.27 mi
+281 ft
45 ft/mi
Elevation profile · 1,800–2,041 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
100% pavement
2025 team betaLots of rolling hills with three big climbs — every downhill was met with a climb. Windy road with very little shoulder. Would recommend a flagger.
mile 173.57 → 181.13 · rotation slot 6 · runner Scott · est. start Sat 10:12 AM ☀️
officialHard
7.56 mi
+364 ft
48 ft/mi
Elevation profile · 999–1,910 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
100% pavement
2025 team betaA lot of gradual climbs for the first 4–5 miles. Take your time — you'll need it for the brutal descent into Devil's Den: switchbacks and high traffic, with over 800 ft of descent in the last couple of miles. Highly recommend a flagger. (rating from our sheet — missing in the note)
🔄 2026 route update: Strava now measures this leg at ~7.3 mi (our 2025 data: 7.56 mi / +364 ft). The profile below is the current route — expect the stats to shift a bit.
mile 181.13 → 187.4 · rotation slot 1 · runner Geoff · est. start Sat 11:26 AM ☀️
officialVery Hard
6.27 mi
+929 ft
148 ft/mi
▲ 2.3% avg · 6.3 mi · 750 ft
Elevation profile · 938–1,809 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
gravel
½ mi trail · 3.5 mi pavement · rest gravel
2025 team betaShort trail coming out of the park with uneven terrain. Once you reach Hwy 16 it's flat until 2.3 miles in — then you climb!! Climb the rest of the way. Walked a few stretches to keep the heart rate down.
⚠ Climb from mile 2.3 on
🔄 2026 route update: Strava now measures this leg at ~6.8 mi (our 2025 data: 6.27 mi / +929 ft). The profile below is the current route — expect the stats to shift a bit.
mile 202.27 → 207.16 · rotation slot 6 · runner Scott · est. start Sat 2:52 PM ☀️
officialModerate
4.89 mi
+259 ft
53 ft/mi
Elevation profile · 1,137–1,261 ft (current 2026 Strava route)
pavement
Pavement · 1 mi gravel · pavement
2025 team betaLight rolling hills. Ferry at the Hwy 62 intersection — park your car on the same side as the runner and ferry across the street. Ends at the finish line at Prairie Grove Battlefield Park! (rating from our sheet — missing in the note)
Cell signal is spotty on the course — load your legs as courses before race weekend so the watch can guide you (route line, off-course alerts, climb profile) with no phone needed.
Link Strava to Garmin (one-time). Garmin Connect app → Settings → Connected Apps → Strava → sign in and enable the Courses permission.
Save each of your legs on Strava. Open the leg's Strava route from its card on the Legs page and tap the ☆ star / save icon so it lights up.
Sync your watch with the Garmin Connect app. Starred Strava routes are pushed to the watch automatically and land in Courses.
Race day: start a Run activity → hold UP/MENU → Navigation → Courses → pick your leg → Do Course. (Menu names vary slightly by model.)
Apple Watch has no native course-following — the WorkOutDoors app can import the same routes (export GPX from Strava), or use the map links on each leg card and run from the phone.
Night rules & official links (🌐 from the official 2025 race guide)
🦺 Nighttime hours = 1 hour before sunset through 1 hour after dawn: reflective vest for anyone
out of the van, headlamp + rear flashing tail light for runners. In-ear headphones are banned (open-ear audio OK).
Course is marked with black arrows on bright-yellow signs at each turn, plus yellow flags and reflective tags.
Strava route
